 Corps Respond Program
The Corps Respond Program:
The Corps Respond Program (CR) is an exciting new program offered by Northwest Youth Corps which is based in Eugene, Oregon. In 2008, a team of ten AmeriCorps members led by a full-time Youth Corps staff member will form the Corps Respond Team whose efforts will focus on disaster preparedness, safety education, community outreach and conservation projects throughout the northwest. Program specifics are currently being developed.
The Corps Respond Program's design will include the development of the CR team schedule. The schedule will include training and conducting education sessions in Lane County and in rural communities, as well as completing conservation projects and technical trainings throughout the northwest. By the end of the ten month period, CR participants will have a skill-set which will allow them to pursue leadership, disaster response, education, and/or conservation careers. Examples of trainings and skills which may be included in the CR schedule: Red Cross disaster response training, CERT certification and trainings, WFR and CPR certifications, advanced chainsaw training, power tool trainings, experiential teaching skills, technical trail and structure construction, conservation skills, wilderness survival and minimal impact camping skills, Red Card certification, Swift Water Rescue and Search and Rescue trainings, leadership and judgment training, conflict mediation trainings, suicide prevention trainings, CDL certification, volunteer coordination and event planning training and experience, curriculum writing, grant writing and more. The CR training program is being finalized and should be considered tentative and subject to change.
Early on in the 10-month term, Corps Respond members will complete six-week field-based leadership development training, modeled after Northwest Youth Corps' Leadership Development Program. This training will introduce members to conservation and technical project skills, as well as focus on group management, project management and judgment skills.
The rest of the term will be divided between trainings and work, with field work and trainings and presentations. Members may exchange weeks of work for trainings such as Red Card certification, and chainsaw training. They may spend weeks in town teaching Outdoor School and Youth Works students, and attending and conducting trainings. As skill development progresses, members will begin to engage with communities to teach disaster preparedness. For example, working with the Eugene CERT program, members will plan, coordinate and present classes to local schools, community groups and Northwest Youth Corps students, staff and members. The CR Team will work alongside youth crews providing disaster preparedness and technical trainings. Members may work with local communities where conservation projects are based to teach disaster preparedness skills such as building a 72-hour kit, or preparing homes for disasters such as wildfires.
Conservation projects include, but are not limited to, trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, noxious weed removal, fuels management/silviculture, campground maintenance and other projects. Frequently, projects are located in extremely remote settings, often with little contact with the "outside" world.
Learn more about Corps Respond Team Member positions.
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